Ambulance stretcher-support.



J. T. SHEETS.

AMBULANCE STRETCHER SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.;23| 1912.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I THE COLUMBIA PLANQGRAPH c0-. WASHINGTON, D. c.

J. T. SHEETS.

AMBULANCE STRETCHER SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23, 1912.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 THE c0 ANOGRAFH co., WASHINGTON, n. c

. resident of Covington,

lance or near s JESSE T. SHEETS, OF? COVINGTON, KENTUCKY AMBULANCE STRETCI-IER-SUPPORT.

Application filed October 23, 1912. Serial No. 727,278

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, Jnssn T. SHnn'rs, a citizen of the United States of America, and county of Kenton, and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ambulance Stretcher-Supports, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stretcher supports for ambulances, or similar vehicles,

and has for an object to produce a new and improved support, which simplifies the operation of lifting a patient into, and removing one from, an ambulance.

A further object is to produce a stretcher support which eliminates the necessity of an attendant entering the ambulance for the purpose of mounting a stretcher in the proper position on its support Within the ambulance.

These and other objects I attain by means of an apparatus embodying the features herein described, and illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this application.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a support embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic, fragmental sectionalview of an ambulance equipped with a stretcher support embodying my invention. The support is shown in the position it occupies during the operation of placing a patient in, or removing one from, the ambulance. vFig. 3 is a fragmental end view of an ambulance equipped with a support similar to the one shown in Fig. 2, the support being shown in the normal or stretcher-supporting position. Fig.4 is a view of the inner end of the support, shown in Fig. 3, on an enlarged scale, and with portions broken away for convenience of illustration.

The apparatus shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4: is equipped to receive a single stretcher, while the support shown in Fig. 1 is capable of accommodating two stretchers. The sup port illustrated as an embodimentof my invention, may be employed in an ambusimilar vehicle and is so constructed that it may be quickly and easily assembl-edand secured in place in the ambulance, and as easily and rapidly dismantled and Specification of Letters Patent.

ing the stretcher,

patient on it, in, ambulance,

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

removed from the ambulance. The support includes a frame 5, which is capable of being moved from a horizontal or normal position, to an inclined or stretcher receiving 'or delivering position, such as is illustrated in Fig. 2. A movable stretcher-engaging member or holder 6, for engaging one end of a stretcher, is so mounted on the frame that it is capable of being moved longitudinally thereof, and of being turned to different positions, relatively thereto, for the purpose of simplifying the operation of placing a stretcher in the proper position within the ambulance or of removing a stretcher from the ambulance. Stretcher supports, ordinarily employed, are so formed and so located within the ambulance, that it is necessary for one or both of the attendants bearto enter the ambulance for the purpose of mounting the stretcher in the pro-per position on the supports. This is a difiicult operation, when a patient is on the stretcher, and the operation of removing a patient from the ambulance is equally difiicult. The steps provided on the rear end of the ambulance are usually steep and it is diflicult for the attendant, carrying the head end of the stretcher, to enter the ambulance and place the stretcher in the proper position on its supports. This diiiiculty is entirely overcome with my invention by mounting the stretcher-engaging member or holder 6 on a way of guide 7, which is so located on the frame 5 that the member 6 is capable of being moved to a position at one end of the frame, such that it clears the uprights of the frame and is accessible from the exterior of the ambulance In the embodiments of my invention herein illustrated, the movable frame 5 aids in the operation of placing a stretcher, with a or removing it from, the since it is capableof being moved so that it projects out of the rear end of the ambulance, and it consequently permits the member 6 to be moved to more accessible positions, than would'be the case if the frame were stationary.

The frame illustrated is formed of pipe sections and is'so arranged that it can be folded up so that it occupies a small amount of space. It will be understood, however,

mediate 11-11 are located at the outer end vof the that the pipe sections are employed merely for the purpose of lightening and cheapenmay be otherwise constructed.

The base portion of the frame is rectangular in shape, and is provided at the outer end with projecting handles 8, and yieldingly mounted feet 9, which, as illustrated, are secured to the frame by means of intersupporting springs. Uprights base portion, and as shown, are formed of .a single piece of piping, which is bent to a substantially U-shaped form, and is provided, at its lower ends, with T-sections 12, each of which is loosely or rotatively mounted on a projection, formed on the base portion, so that the uprights can be lowered to a horizontal position during the operation of folding up the support. Any suitable means, such for example as bolts 13which extend through apertures formed in the T-sections and the extensions, on which the sections are mountedmay be employed for holding the uprights 11 in the vertical position.

A single upright 14- is located at the inner end of the support. This upright, like each of the uprights 11, is provided at its lower end with a T-section. 15 which is loosely or rotat-ively mounted on the base portion of the frame, so that the upright is capable of being turned downwardly. to a horizontal position, in folding up the support. As shown, the guide or way 7 for the holder or stretcher-engaging member 6, consists of a pipe section, or rod, which is bent back upon itself, at the outer end of the sup- ;port and is secured to the uprights 12 in such a way, that it projects outwardly past them. i

The inner end of the rod or way 7 is so mounted on the upright 14 that the stretcher holder 6 is yieldingly supported, when located at the inner end of the frame or adjacent to the upright 14. This is accomplished in the apparatus illustrated, by providing a supportingyoke 1st for the inner end of the way 7, which is yieldingly mounted on the upper end of the upright 14. The voke has a shank or plunger 16,

which projects into the upper end of the,

upright 14 and is surrounded by a coil spring 17. The spring 17 supports the yoke and any suitable means may be employed for securing it to the upright and to the yoke, for the purpose of preventing the yoke from being accidentally disengaged from the upright when the frame is folded.

In the drawings I have shown a removable bolt 18 which projects through apertures formed in the way 7 and in the yoke 14:, and locks the way in place on the yoke, and consequently locks the way to the uplng the construction, and that the frame the endaof the way to the pipe section. The

locking of the way 7 to the uprights 11 and let locks the frame in the upright position and holds it rigidly in that position.

The holder or stretcher-engaging member 6 is substantially U-shaped and is mounted on the way 7 by means of pulley 21 to pin With this arrangement the member 6is capable of being moved along the way 7 and also of being turned to different angular positions relatively to the way. The member 6 is of such width that it readily passes between the uprights 11, and the looped back portion of the way 7 enables it to be moved to such a position on the support and outside of the uprights 11, that it can be turned at right angles to the plane of the members 11 for the purpose of being more easilyesecured to the head end of a stretcher. The uprights 11 are provided with brackets 23 which operate to support the foot of the stretcher.

The frame '5 is preferably mounted on rollers 24*, so that it can be readily moved to an inclined position in which it projects beyond the rear end of the ambulance in which it is located. As illustrated, the rollers 9. 1- are mounted on a board or strip 25 which extends transversely across the floor of the ambulance and may be removably securedin place by means of a bolt 26.

which it is connected by means of a swivel Each roller 24 is so positioned that itengages one of the side or longitudinally ex tending members of the base. portion of the frame, and it is provided with a concave groove in its peripheral face, which receives one of the side members and guides the longitudinal motion of the frame. I have also provided means for limiting the motion of the frame and for preventing it from tilting an objectionable amount when it is moved As illustrated,

prevent the frame from being'nulled off of ward so, that it extends beyond the rear end of the ambulance, and so that the feet are moved to a position beyond the rear edge of the floor. The outer end of the support is then set down so that the side members of the base portion rest upon the floor or the rear edge of the floor of the ambulance.

This causes the frame to occupy an inclined position, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The memher 6 is then moved to the outer end of the way 7 and is'turned at right angles to the plane of the uprights 11, so thatthe head end of a stretcher can be readily secured to it. The attendant bearing the head end of' the stretcher then sets the stretcher on hooks formed on the member 6, and the attendant, bearing the foot of the stretcher, walks around so as to turn the stretcher aboutthe swivel pin 22 of the member 6. When the stretcher is turned to a position such that it extends longitudinally of the support the attendant pushes the stretcher between the uprights 11 and thereby causes the pulley 21 to ride along the way 7 and the members 6 to move to a position at the inner end of the holder, adjacent to the upright 14. The

foot of the stretcher is then mounted on the brackets 23, which places the stretcher wholly on the support and also looks it against longitudinal motion. stretcheris in place on the support the outer end of the support is raised, by means of the handles 8, and is moved to the normal position within the ambulance, such that its feet 9 engage the floor of the ambulance. The springs of the feet 9 yield sufficiently to prevent the foot of the stretcher being subjected to shocks and jolts occasioned by the motion of the vehicle, and the spring 17, together with the loop formed in the way 7 permits the head of the stretcher to yield sufficiently to cause the stretcher to ride comfortably. The T-section 15 to which the upright 141 is secured is capable of turning about its mounting member so that the upright 15 can sway to accommodate itself to the motion of the inner end of the way 7, occasioned by the yielding of the spring 17. p

The operation of removing a stretcher from the support is the reverse of that'just described: The support is first moved to the inclined position, the foot of the stretcher is lifted off of the bracket 23 and the stretcher is moved outwardly, longitudinally of the support, to such a position that its head After the clearsthe uprights 11.' The stretcher is then turned to a position at right angles to the support, so that its handles, located at the head end, are easily accessible and the second attendant then grasps the handles and lifts the head of the stretcher off of the member 6. In the drawings I have shown :the member 6 so constructed that they are adapted to engage a transverse member 28,

located between the longitudinal members or handles of the stretcher. It will of course be understood that the member may be pro vided with hooks of any desired shape, capable of engaging the handles or other portions of the stretcher, if desired.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a modification of my invention, in which the support is equipped. with two movable stretcher-engaging members. In addition to the member 6, a member 29 is mounted on the way 7 and is capable of being moved along the way for the purpose of receiving the head end of a stretcher.

29 is similar to the member 6, described, except that its stretcher-engaging arms are shorter. In placing two stretchers on the support illustrated in Fig. 1, the bottom.

stretcher must be located in position on the support, prior to mounting the second stretcher on the support, and the upper stretcher must be removed from the support before the lower stretcher is removed.

-The operation of folding the stretcher support, illustrated in Fig. 1, is somewhat as follows: The way 7 is first detached and removed from the uprights 11 and 14. This also removes the members 6 and 29 from the support and they can easily be removed from the way 7 by merely slipping them off of its inner end. Then the removable bolts 13 are withdrawn so as to permit the uprights 11 to swing to a horizontal position against the base portion of the frame, and the upright 14 is turned to the horizontal position, so. that it rests on the uprights 11.

The members 6 and 29 and the way 7 may thenbe strapped onto the folded frame portion for the purpose of keeping all of the parts together. The frame portion may be removed from the ambulance by turning the hooks 27 to such positions that they free the base portion of the frame and then by lifting the frame off of the rollers 2 The rollers 24 may also be removed from the floor of the ambulance by simply withdrawing the holding bolts 26, and removing the strip 25.

The operation of unfolding and assembling the different parts of the support is as simple as that of dismantling and folding up the support. The upright 14 is first raised to the vertical position, the uprights 11 are then raised to the upright position Two sets of brackets 23 are also mounted on the uprights 11. The member and secured in place by means of the bolts 13. The looped end of the way 7 is then secured on the uprights 11 and the members 6 and 29 are placed on the way. The inner end of the way is then secured to the yoke 14 by means of the bolt 18. The operation of folding up, and unfolding the stretcher support, illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 is substantially the same as that of the support illustrated in Fig. 1. Inasmuch as two stretchers are seldom employed in an ambulance it may be desirable to so construct the pulley support of the member 29, that the member 29 can be hooked onto the way 7 without the necessity of first removing the member 6 from the inner end of the way. With such an arrangement the support may be easily converted so that it will support either one or two stretchers.

In accordance with the United States patent statutes, I have illustrated the two embodiments of my invention, but Idesire it to be understood that various chan 'es modifications and substitutions may be made in the details of construction of the apparatus illustrated withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

V 1. In combination with an ambulance, a stretcher support comprising, a frame located in the ambulance and movable from a horizontal to an inclined position, and a stretcher-engaging member mounted on and movable longitudinally along said frame.

2. In combination with an ambulance, a stretcher support comprising, a frame movably mounted within the ambulance, a way mounted on the frame and projecting at one end beyond its supporting members, a stretcher-engaging member mounted on the way and movable therealong to a position beyond the end members of the frame,

means provided on the frame for supporting one end on the floor of the ambulance and means mounted on the floor of the ambulance for supporting the other end of the frame.

3. In combination with an ambulance, a stretcher support comprising, a frame mounted in the ambulance and movable, relatively thereto, to a horizontal or inclined position, a way mounted on the frame and projecting at one end beyond the end members of the frame, a stretcher-engaging member mounted on and movable along the way, rollers mounted on the floor of the ambulance for supporting one end of the frame and means formed on the other end of the frame for cooperating with said rollers to support the frame in a horizontal position. 4. In combination with an ambulance, a stretcher support comprising, a frame movably mounted within the ambulance, a way mounted on the frame and projecting beyond its support members at one end of the frame, a stretcher support member mounted mounted on the frame for cooperating. with said member in supporting a stretcher on the frame. r

6. A stretcher support comprising, a frame having a way formed thereon," which extends at one end beyond its supporting members, a stretcher-engaging member mounted on, movable along, and capable of being turned to angularpositions relatively to the way, and means mounted on the frame for cooperating with said member in supporting a stretcher.

7. A stretcher support comprisin a frame consisting of a base portion, uprights capable of being folded to horizontal positions along said base portion, a way removably mounted on said uprights. and a said way.

, 8. A stretcher support comprising, a frame having two sets of stretcher-engaging brackets located one above the other, a way mounted on the frame above said brackets, and two stretcher-engaging members mounted on and movable along. said way. a 9. A stretcher support for ambulance comprising, a frame having a way formed thereon and projecting at one end beyond the end members of the frame, two sets of stretcher-engaging brackets located on said stretcher-engaging member movable along frame, one above the other and belowsaid way, and two stretcher-engaging members of different lengths mounted on and movable along said way.

10. A stretcher support comprising, a frame, a way secured to the frame, means mounted on the frame for yieldingly supporting-one end of the way, spring feet for supporting. one end of the frame and a stretcher-engaging member mounted on and movable along the way.

11. A stretcher support comprising, a frame, a way mounted on and projecting, at one end, beyond the end members of the frame, means for yieldingly supporting the other end of the way on the frame, and a stretcher-engaging member mounted on and movable along the way.

12. In combination with an ambulance, a stretcher support comprising a. frame,

Ill

stretcher engaging brackets mounted on the frame, a Way mounted on the frame vand projecting at one end beyond the end members of the frame, a stretcher adapted to engage said brackets and said Way, said stretcher being movable along the Way to the projecting portion thereof When it is lifted from said brackets.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this eighteenth day of 10 October, 1912.

JESSE T. SHEETS.

Witnesses:

E. W. MOCALLISTER, W. THonN'roN BOGERT,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

